Most PR pros got raises last year, PR Daily survey finds

According to the results of the first-ever PR Daily Salary and Job Satisfaction survey, 71 percent of public relations professionals received salary increases in 2012. Most raises were modest—24 percent of respondents got pay bumps of 2 to 3 percent—but a significant portion earned salary increases of 10 percent or more. Most respondents expect a raise in 2013.

In terms of salary, 51 percent of PR professionals make between $35,000 and $75,000.

Despite the gains, most PR professionals are dissatisfied with their pay.

More than half (52 percent) of respondents said they are somewhat dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with their compensation. Naturally, the lower they are on the pay scale, the less satisfied they are with their salaries, according to the survey. People working at PR agencies are most likely to be dissatisfied with their pay, while those at public companies are the most likely to be satisfied.

More than 2,700 public relations professionals took part in the online survey, which was conducted in December 2012. Forty-three percent of respondents have been in the PR field from five to 20 years; most respondents (77 percent) were women.

Here are some other findings from the survey:

The Midwest is home to the most top earners in PR: 33 percent of those earning more than $250,000 hail from this region.

Women dominate the bottom and top rungs of the pay scale: 85 percent of those earning less than 35,000 are female, while women account for two-thirds of respondents making more than $250,000.

Government PR professionals get the most vacation time: 42 percent get four weeks or more.

Most respondents work at least 40 hours a week: 57 percent say they log 40 to 50 hours per week.

Deskbound lunches are most common: 69 percent of respondents have lunch at their desks on most days.

“I’ve been trying to leave the office and take an actual,” one survey respondent said. “It’s taken me five years to finally figure out that everyone needs a break.”

To read all about PR salaries and benefits, job satisfaction, work/life balance, and more, download the white paper for free here.

(Note: Those who took the survey in December will automatically receive the white paper report—no need to download it.)